Board of Directors

We have multi-sector experience which includes prominent listed and private companies, as well as governmental and parastatal organisations. We aim to create long term relationships to assist our clients with their talent management requirements. Our exceptional track record of identifying and successfully placing high calibre candidates creates confidence in our ability to establish effective partnerships which add significant value to our clients. Amrop Woodburn Mann is a dominant player in the executive search, placement and talent recruitment industry throughout South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

Andrew’s 25-year career began in Executive Search in 1995 in a London-based firm, and spans international search projects across all functions and industries. He continues to work with clients in the retail, mining, heavy industry, communications, technology, FMCG and financial services sectors.

Prior to being appointed to his search role in 2010, Andrew’s business career involved delivering marketing/strategy consulting, online design, strategy integration, performance management, software development, data analysis and reporting services. His involvement in leading brands and new product development in FMCG companies, such as Coca-Cola and SAB Miller, provided a unique platform to leverage his strategic insight and creative flair into the commercial arena, both within a corporate environment and on an entrepreneurial level. This led to him working in a start-up team for the creation of a new banking organisation in South Africa, with a focus on micro-finance.

He is highly involved in both Board Services and Leadership Development, with a personal interest in assisting corporations and individuals to reach their full potential, and lead the way for an improved future for the African continent.

Andrew received a Master of Science Degree in Development Economics and a Social Studies Graduate Diploma from Oxford University, in addition to receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand.

Andrew is also an accomplished underwater photographer and all round adventurer having completed the Cape Epic Mountain biking race and earned the Underwaterphotograph.com World Champion Award in 2004.

He has been associated with Woodburn Mann Executive Search since 1987 and is currently a Non-Executive Director of Woodburn Mann Consulting Group (Pty) Limited, the holding company for the Woodburn Mann Group of companies. He was previously a Senior Client Partner at Woodburn Mann (Pty) Ltd, during which time he was responsible for appointments of non-executive directors, chief executives, managing directors, financial directors, marketing directors and senior specialised commercial and non-commercial positions in companies ranging from leading multi-national financial institutions to a variety of other listed and non-listed companies in consumer goods, retail, industrial, construction and mining operations..

Prior to working at Woodburn Mann he was an Executive Director of a computer services group and spent ten years as a Senior Financial Executive with a leading leisure industry operation in Southern Africa. His earlier career was as a partner with one of the major auditing and accounting groups in South Africa.

He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cape Town.

He is the Non-Executive Chairman, former Chief Executive and founding member of Woodburn Mann (Pty) Limited which was established in 1982. He has extensive experience in executive search for Non-Executive Chairmen, Chief Executives, Managing Directors and Senior Directors/Managers, across a wide range of industries and organisations in Southern Africa, including HDSA appointments for both private and public organisations. He is also skilled in the profiling and appraisals of Boards of Directors.

In addition to the above, he has international experience in management consulting assignments, strategic business planning, holistic corporate audits and the restructuring of multinational organisations gained on four continents. Individual assessments and the counselling of senior executives also form an integral part of his expertise.

Prior to forming Woodburn Mann (Pty) Limited, he spent twenty years in various senior executive positions in the telecommunications, electrical engineering and electronic industries in South Africa.

He is a qualified Engineer and holds a Master of Science in Engineering and a Doctorate in Commerce from the University of Witwatersrand. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Cape Town.